Royal Navy Ships for 1949

A look ahead to what new classes will be laying down on the slipways next year.

To support the growth of the carrier fleet the requirement for an additional aircraft tender like HMS Unicorn was studied in 1948 but deferred. The DNC offered a modernised Unicorn design with revised armament and thinner box armour around the magazines. It was found easier and cheaper to design a modified Colossus Class ship with the 4.5in guns and one catapult removed and more extensive workshop equipment added. One ship, HMS Perseus has been approved and will be laid down during 1949.

Looks reasonable from a technical point of view. From my perspective, the speed looks a bit excessive for a tender or maintenance vessel, but that would depend upon how you envision it being employed. Likewise the armor. But other than that, I see no issues.

Its a cheap conversion of an existing design so the armour and engines are unchanged.
Being a high-value asset some armour is only logical and speed is needed for launching etc. and keeping up with the main carrier fleet (albeit at a safe distance), so using an off-the-shelf design made sense. And if things get dire, the design is capable of use as a fighter carrier (at least as long as piston engine fighters remain in service).

Beyond the Wiltshire Class the Admiralty looked at another repeat Northumberland. The DNC offered a modernised design (CA6) with the new YARD powerplant, in this case three 30,000hp units giving a three-shaft layout. The belt armour was modified to that of the Wiltshire so the overall effect has been to reduce weight and cost with the benefits of improved speed and increased range (1,000nm at 20kts). The DNC then offered a further improved version (CA6a) with the 4.5in battery replaced by eight twin 3in L/50 and the new 57mm quad mount which offered even more weight saving and formidable anti-aircraft firepower. A modernised fire-control suite is also to be fitted. Four ships will be completed as the Cumberland Class.

The retired County Class cruiser HMS Suffolk will be rebuilt as a weapons trials ship with several new gun mounts. These will include a twin 5.5in mount based on the gun used in the Town Class cruiser-destroyers, a new 3in L/50 automatic gun for rapid-fire AA and anti-destroyer fire for vessels unable to carry the 4.5in gun or for major vessels which need additional AA firepower. The DNO also outlined a quadruple 6pdr AA using the same basic mount as the new sextuple 2pdr.

The availability of funds has seen the Fleet Aircraft Direction Escort inserted into the building programme. This class of escort is to direct carrier-based fighters onto incoming aerial threats to surface groups and convoys. A full set of interception RDF equipment (Types 971, 972 and 287Q) is fitted along with dedicated AIO spaces.

It had been planned to convert the Cathedral Class scouts. The DNC drew up two sketch designs with two 4.5in Mk.VI mounts; FADE A featured 4.5in mounts in A and Q position with one sextuple 40mm mount in B position and FADE B had both 4.5in Mk.VI mounts forward. All torpedo tubes were removed and additional generator capacity would be provided and the superstructures remodelled. It was found that there was insufficient space and weight margin for the full FADE equipment. The DNC then considered a FADE based on the Town Class hull with the 5.5in guns replaced by two 4.5in Mk.VI mounts in A and Q positions. The result was satisfactory but it was felt the hull was larger than desired and the result more expensive. The DNC then took a Battle Class destroyer hull, removing B mount and retaining the same 45,000hp machinery but with additional generator capacity. The result was very satisfactory and following Board Approval the order went out to the shipyards for six hulls under the 1949 Programme as the Leopard Class.

Also laying down during 1949 are some new auxiliaries.
Two new repair ships based on the Hecla tender design will replace the existing aging HMS Reliance and HMS Scotstoun.
To support the Bar Class boom defence vessels it was decided to order a second Guardian Class netlayer. The 1936 design being updated with a new diesel powerplant and a more effective AA armament fitted. Just one ship, HMS Sentry, is planned.